"This image is a good example of 'the one that almost got away'. After film has been developed, it is a normal part of my working process to cut out and keep contact sheet size prints of all the images that interest me. I like to allow some time before I make the decisions about which negatives to print. Three years went by before Twelve Winter Stalks was chosen to be printed specifically for the book Forms of Japan, published by Prestel in 2015. When photographing in Hokkaido it is easy to be seduced and distracted by the ubiquitous magnificent mountains, lakes and forests. Sometimes I choose to ignore all that and instead concentrate on the minutia right in front of me. I find the abstract arrangement of shapes made by these stalks in snow are every bit as majestic and beautiful as a larger scale landscape. Of course, I made many studies. It often happens that one image stands out from others for no apparent reason. I think this image has equilibrium and balance without a sense of predictability. It is a quiet, harmonious photograph and I think it reflects my state of mind and the way I approached the subject matter at the time. Being such a light image I almost missed it completely while looking through the contact sheets, hence it 'almost got away'. Fortunately, stronger images tend to make themselves known over time. I am very glad this one eventually made its way into the world." Michael Kenna 2019
